The impressive Saturn Ion
During the 2002 New York International Auto Show, Saturn launched a new breed
of sports compact – the Ion. Named after a particle accelerator capable of creating
the highest energy that could cause great motion, Saturn Ion set a new pace for Saturn’s fleet of cars. There are two Ion siblings in Saturn's
lineup – the Sedan and Quad Coupe, both patterned after the new Delta global small-car
platform. The Ion sedans went out in late 2002 ,while the Quad Coupe on the other
went on sale by April 2003.
 In 2004, Saturn launched its Red Line series of performance-tuned vehicles to
boost its goal of providing the automobile market with competent of cars. Instead
of carrying the usual 140-horsepower (HP) engine, the Ion Red Line Quad
Coupe is powered by a supercharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder machine that revs up
to 250 HP. Ion's suspension was also tweaked to enable owners better handling
of twists and turns on the road.
The Ion features a set of Saturn parts that boosts its stock in the automotive
market. An important Saturn Ion part that cuts the car above most of its competitors is the set of automatic headlamps,
which adapts to different lighting conditions on the road. Other safety features
of the Ion are the car's steel space frame, five-star safety rating, front/side
airbags,
and seatbelt pretensioners and load limiters for the Sedan. Another unique Saturn
Ion part is the set of dual rear access doors. Rear quad doors and flexible seating
provide four-door car flexibility for the Coupe. Other comfort features of the
Ion include fold-flat front passenger seat, CD/MP3 player and XM satellite radio,
auxiliary input jack, LCD message center, and theater seating. Performance-wise,
Ions are equipped
with anti-lock brakes and traction control, sport-tuned suspension, dent-resistant
side panels, and 16-inch alloy wheels. Impressive looks are not enough in the
bustling world of automobiles. Luckily
enough, Saturn Ion is quite capable of keeping up with the stiff competition.
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